9 things you missed at the Mini Maker Faire

Industrial engineering freshman Fiona Blackburn is a member of EWB, and she said they are raising awareness about food shortages in Malawi.

“We have a project team working in Malawi, Africa, and currently their major food source is corn, which they have to hand-dry and kernel, and hand-grind the corn,” Blackburn said. “So what we are working on now is a bike-powered grinding machine.”

2. A Cal Poly student’s handmade knives

Materials engineering senior Aaron Ludlow got most of the material to make his tools from a friend’s old car.

3. Cal Poly’s liberal arts and engineering studies

Liberal arts and engineering studies students brought an interactive paper prism display that allowed participants to add to it.

4. Materials Engineering Student Societies booth

Representing the College of Engineering, students had interactive learning materials for kids.

5. Demonstrations

There was a binary dance and chemistry magic show on the main stage.

6. How to make skateboards from scratch

The Pacific Beach High School Skateboard Builders showed how they take maple or bamboo wood decks and laminate them to make longboards and skateboards.

7. Make-a-robot station

All the supplies to make a robot were provided by the South County Family Education and Cultural Center.

8. 3-D printers

Demonstrations of how a 3-D printer works allowed viewers to watch designs come to life.

9. Solar-heated kettle and bacon

Visitors learned how solar energy is converted to make water boil and cook bacon.